Combined visor and automatic flash light



Feb. 9 1926.

J. A. KOLIBAS COMBINED VISOR AND AUTOMATIC FLASH LIGHT Filed Jan, 14, 1925 INVENTOR.

1 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

- UNITED STATES JOHN A. KOLIBAS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINED VISOR AND AUTOMATIC FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed January 14, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JorrN A. KoLIBAs, a citizen of the United Stateaand a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Visors and Automatic Flz'ishLights, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated ap plying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

.This invention, as indicated, relates to a combined visor and automatic flashlight. More particularly it comprises a device adapted to form a visor which will serve as a reflector when the flashlight is brought into action. The device is preferably formed as a part of an emergency cap for use by automobilists,though obviously it is adapt ed for a wide variety of uses where a bright light is required directlyin front ofthe person wearing the device, especially where the use of both hands is desirable because of the work in which said person is engaged. Thus it also will be found of advantage for members of the fire department, locomotive engineers, plumbers. and gas fitters, miners, policemen, soldiers on night duty and numerous other special occupations, particularly those requiring temporary lighting.

It has heretofore been proposed to mount electric lights above or in advance of the visor of a cap or similar head gear. In all of such devices it has been found that the light is thrown upon the work at too great a distance fromthe person wearing the apparatus so that satisfactoryuse of the same would be diflicult, and not infrequently shadows would be cast bet-ween the eyes of the person using the apparatus and the work to be illuminated which would be found to interfere with satisfactory vision.

The principal object of the present invention is to obviate the difiiculties referred to and to provide'an improved type of device of the character mentioned. Another object of the invention is to provide a visor, which, when forming part of a head covering, preferably a cap, will serve every purpose of the usual visor of such a head covering, and which, in addition, will be adapted to form part of a powerful reflector for a flashlight mounted beneath the same. A further object of the invention is to provide a visor having a concave reflecting surface Serial No. 2,255.

of extended area on its underside, meeting with a convex reflecting surface formed on the forward portion of the head band of the head covering, and toprovide one or more light elements adjacent the meeting line of said reflectors so that they may co-act to project a light beam in front of the person using the same. Another object of the invention is to provide a head covering preferably in the form of a cap, which will be neat and attractive in appearance and which, through the use of a switching device preferably operating automatically upon the ad-- justment of said head covering, will close the circuit through the flashlight and project a brilliant light-in front of the wearer of the device. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of the char acter referred to which may be economically manufactured and which may be maintained in condition for emergency use with a minimum of attention and expense. Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency cap having a partially detachable lining within which the wiring and dry battery of the flashlight may be secured and which may be worn with comfort by the user of the device. A still further object of i theinvention is to provide a cap of the character referred to which will be readily adjustable to a number of different head sizes and which may be adjusted to various positions on the head of the wearer to throw said device into and out of action as a flash light. Other objects of the invention will apear in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,*said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a cap embodying the principles of my invention in operative position upon the head of the wearer; Fig. 2 is a top view with the central portion broken away and showing in,

section the segmental reflector and its associated parts; Flg. 3 1s a perspective view showing the rearward portlon of the interlor of the cap with elastic bands, switch and the means for detachably fastening the lining in position; Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary view of the back portion of the cap showing the open seam and size adjusting elements; Fi 5 is a perspective view showing the switc and contact preventing device; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a cap resting high upon the head of the wearer with the automatic switch in 0 en position; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to ig. 6 showing the cap fully down in position upon the head of the wearer with the automatic switch in closed position.

As is clearly shown inthe drawings, the device embodied in the form of a cap includes a crown section 1 provided at its forward side with a stiffened head band 2 of circular outline adapted to rest against the forehead of the wearer. Secured to said head band, or if desired, formed integrally therewith, a visor 3 of sheet material projecting forwardly from the head of the wearer is provided. The visor and its associated segmental portion of the head band may be formed ofalulninum or of a metal base heavily nickel plated on its under side and the adjacent vertical face of the head band section so as to provide a light reflecting surface. These parts may also be formed of celluloid or any material having either a highly polished surface or light reflecting ualities. In the construction illustrated in igs. 1 and 2, the visoris formed of a crescent-shaped sheet of fiber 4 secured by stitches to the forward lower edge of the head band. A thin sheet of reflecting material 5, such as,polished aluminum, 18 secured to the underside of the fiber sheet by means of projecting clipsfi on the outer margin thereof, which are bent upwardly and rearwardly to grip the edge of the fiber portion of the visor. A similar reflecting sheet 7 is fastened to the fiber base 8 of the segmental head band. i h

Centrally of the segmental head band a pair of miniature electric flashli ht bulbs 11 are mounted, said bulbs prefera ly being set into sockets 12 seated within suitable apertures formed in said headband and projecting a slight distance in advance thereof. It has been found desirable to have such flashlight bulbs ositioned as close to the segmental head 7 and as possible in order to revent direct rays from the flashlight bul s striking the eyes of the wearer of the device.

v The head band 2 preferably is made of a depth to meet the rearwardmarginal edges of the visor which may be formed so as to provide asharply concaved under surface adjacent the head of the wearer. If desired, the segmental portion of the head band may be made of somewhat greater depth in order that it may project partially over the eyebrows of the wearer and, form an additional means of protection against the direct ra 's of the flashlight entering the eyes of tie wearer.

The details of the electric circuit, including the flashlight battery 15, the flashlight bulbs 11, the controlling switch 16, and the necessary conductors 9, 9', 10, and terminals, may be varied to suit the character of the head covering to which the apparatus is applied.

In the form illustrated the crown portion of the cap is provided on its under side at a central point with a casing 17, preferably of stiffened material, such as sheet fiber, or cardboard of a size to slidingly receive a flashlight battery of oval cross section A strap 28 is engaged through a slotted portion 29 of said casing and serves to hold the same in osition, the ends of the strap being secure to the crown of the cat by means of rivets 30. The forward end 0 said battery casing is rovided with a block of wood 18, or insu ating co positiomupon which are carried the usua s ring contacts 19, 20, adapted to be engaged by the ositive and negative terminals 1, 22, of the attery. The battery, after being laced within the casing, may be secured tiiereto by various means, the means illustrated com rising a sprin clip 23 which maybe raise so as to permit the ready release of the battery from the casing.

The switch illustrated com rises a air of insulated lates 24 connecte at their ase by means 0 a spring metal plate 25 of U shape, wh1ch wil normally hold said plates spaced apart at their upper ends. A metal contact element 26, 2 7, is mounted upon each of said insulated plates adacent its free end and one terminal of the electric circuit, including the battery and flashlight bulbs is connected to said respective contacts.

The flashlight will operate with one or more electric bulbs but it has been found most advantageous to rovide two electric bulbs connected in para lel with the current source. his insures continuous use of the flashlight even when one of the bulbs burns out. If the lights were connected in series the failure of one of them would render the apparatus useless until said bulb was replaced. 7

The switch is preferably attached to one side of the cap rearwardly of the point of attachment of the segmental head band and visor. The switch may be turned with the open portion projecting upwardly or downwardly and its operation may be controlled by the position of the' head covering upon the head of the wearer. lVhere the cap is of such size that the elasticity of the head band is adequate to hold the same on the upper portion of the head of the wearer, the V-shaped switch, when turned downwall.

wardly, will not have its contact terminals brought together until a fairly high degree of tension upon the head band is produced by forcing the cap downwardly upon the larger portion of the head.

It is found more desirable, however, to control the switch by the position of the head covering upon the head of the wearer, irrespective of an excess of elasticity in the head band, and this may be accomplished by positioning the open portion of the switch upwardly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 The action of the switch is thus automatically controlled by the positionof the head covering upon the head of the wearer, the shifting of said head covering serving to energize and deenergize the flashlights, by increasing or relieving the pressure of the wearers head against the free switch arm.

The cap illustrated in the drawings is preferably provided with a flexible side wall and the open seam 31 at its rearward end is adapted to be closed by means of hooks 32 and eyes 33 or some similar expedient. The forward portion of head band comprises the stiffened segmental portion formingapart of the reflector. The remaining portion may be freely flexible and preferably is provided adjacent its rearward portion with a pair of elastic bands 34, 85, which are secured at one end to the flexible side wall of the head covering and at the opposite end are provided with a plurality of snap fastener elements 36, 87, through which various adjustments may be made to secure the desired degree of tension upon the head band. The elastic bands shown are of different lengths, the longer one overlapping the one of shorter length and having an extension 40 adapted to be placed between the switch contacts when the cap is to be worn in flrm position upon the head without closing the lighting circuit. A plurality of snap fastener elements 38, 39, are provided on the inner wall of the cap to permit adjustment of the ten sion of said elastic bands.

The crown portion of the cap is provided with a lining 41 which is firmly secured to the marginal edges of the head band about the forward. portion thereof and which is provided with a plurality of snap fastener elements 42 for the rearward portion thereof in order to give free access to the battery casing and the conductor wires secured to the inner wall of the crown of the cap. Companion snap fastener elements 43 are secured to the inner marginal portion of the side Another snap fastener element 44 is provided at the point of unction of the rear seam with the crown of the cap, and a companion snap fastener element 45 on the lining serves to hold the lining in position at the back of the cap 'so that it will not interfere with the proper adjustment of the cap upon the head of the wearer. A cushioning pad 46 is provided centrally of the li-n ing of the cap to protect the head of the wearer from contact with the battery casing.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the follow ing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. An article of the character described, having in combination a. head covering, a visor associated with said head covering, a head band section of stiffened material conforming to the contour of the forehead car ried by said head covering and rigidly associated with said visor, a flashlight carried by said head band section, and a concave reflecting surface formed on the underside of said visor and adapted to reflect the light from said flashlight downwardly in front of the user of the apparatus.

2. An article of the character described, having in combination a head covering, a visor associated with said head covering, a head band section of stiffened material conforming to the contour of the forehead carried by said head covering and rigidly associated with said visor, a flashlight carried by said head band section, and a reflecting surface formed on the convex forward side of said head band section, and a concave reflecting surface formed on the under side of said visor, said reflecting surfaces being adapted to reflect the light from said flash light forwardly and downwardly in front of the user of the apparatus.

3. An article of the character described, having in combination a head covering having a crown portion with a side wall, an elastic member connected to the rearward portion of said side wall at one side of the central portion thereof and adjustably connected with the opposite side wall, a battery, switch and circuit connections carried by said head covering, a visor connected with the'forward portion of said head covering, a concave reflecting surface formed on the under side of said visor, a head band of stiffened material associated with said visor and conforming to the contour of the fore head of the wearer of said head covering, and a flashlight bulb carried by said head band and connected with said switch and battery circuit, said flashlight being in a position to co-operate with the reflecting surface of said visor.

4. An article of the character described, having in combination a head covering having a crown portion with a side wall, an elastic member permanently connected to the rearward portion of said side wall at one side of the rearward portion thereof and adjust ably connected with said side wall at the other side thereof, a lining for said head covering means for detachably connecting the rearward portion of said lining to said head covering, a battery, switch, and circuit connections carried by said head covering between the lining and the inner surface of said crown portion, a visor connected with the forward portion of said head covering, a reflecting surface formed on the under side of said visor, and a flashlight bulb car ried by said head covering and connected with said switch and battery circuit, said flashlight being in a position close to the line of sight and adapted to cooperate with the reflecting surface of said visor.

5. An article of the character described having in combination a head covering having a head band, a flashlight at the forward portion thereof, a source of ower with circuit connections to said flashiight, and a switch included in said circuit comprising a V-shaped member carrying circuit con tacts at the outer ends, one arm of said V- shaped member being rigidly attached to the inner side of the head band and the other arm standing free thereof and adapted to be moved into circuit closing osition by the lowered position of cap on the head of the wearer.

Signed by me, this 9th day of January, 1925.

JOHN A. KOLIBAS. 

